Irresponsible Riders

oh trust me I know, just on Saturday gone by I was cantering on the left rein by a wing that was just off the track so blocking the path of anyone on the right. This girl comes along cantering on the right rein, instead of circling or slowing she keeps coming and slams me and my horse into the wall in order for her to get through! My left side of my body slammed into her and was flung over the right so of the horse but luckily I grabbed onto my mares neck although she is very spooky and this scared her a lot which resulted her in galloping around the arena!
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
Also while a person may get cross at others passing cos their horse cant cope with it, others may get cross at being stuck behind someone cos their horse cant cope with that either ie dont expect others horses to be under perfect control brakes wise when yours isnt under perfect control in the sense that it cant be controlled with other horses passing it.
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Totally agree. On a pleasure drive with long striding 16.2hh, we got stuck behind a 12hh pony. It was almost impossible to keep my horse slow enough to stay behind and we couldn't stop to let them get ahead as we had other horses behind us. What was even more annoying was the stupid woman had insisted on going ahead of us after a halt as her pony "didn't like to be held up".
 
Out hacking I would always ask if its ok to overtake but fun rides are slightly different. I wouldn't go galloping past or trot past someone obviously struggling. But I expect to be able to trot without shouting out every few minutes. If everyone answers yes, then its pointless, & if lots of people say no it spoils my ride. The odd person who does have difficulties should either set off at the back, or take responsibility for looking round & asking people politely to walk, if your horse is green/over excited etc then it should be your voice that goes hoarse not mine.
 
I would expect to be overtaken on a fun ride but I would certainly expect a polite call before being overtaken :)

It's only good manners imo, which seem to be severely lacking in some riders.
 
I always call out "ok to pass?" on fun rides or hacking - then trot past in a controlled fashion and make sure I am a good way ahead before cantering. TBH I am pretty much always the first there and among the first dozen out to avoid having to worry about passing too many, nothing worse than getting to a lovely open field only to find loads of people walking through it - if it happens I usually canter if they are way in front then drop to a trot - ask to pass then when a good distance ahead canter on.
 
Manners makith man and women and that is where things go wrong.

People are in such a rush these days and have no patience.

I was recently in an Endurance race ride (in the lead) there were pleasure rider along the same track and although the chasing rider was not far behind I slowed down and asked nicely if I could pass. Unfortunately I often find it is the pleasure rider that do not have the control or manners.

Everyone has to have fun life is far too serious but we should not spoil others fun by being rude both in action and word.
 
Llewellyn said:
Ps not every rider has the strength of hearing to hear hooves on grass, just a problem a friend has. (there isn't a ribbon for your horses tail that says I'm as deaf as a post. :o)
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I guess I was also relying on the people overtaking gabbing to each other too! :)
 
Just to add a different spin - if you're warming up in the collecting arena and are about to pass someone with their back to you on the inside track (for example) do you let them know you're coming past?

I always do, out of courtesy but also so as there isn't a collision! Especially if I'm in trot/canter :)
 
A couple of friends of mine had a large dose of inconsiderate ridership (if that's a word) at a fun ride recently. J on her ex-racer Sevi and SJ on her dependable cob Teddy had opted to do the ride without jumping and both horses coped well with other horses/riders overtaking . . . and they certainly weren't plodding along in walk - both were happy to trot and canter.

However, they were approaching a jump that wasn't far from a road and a passing rider warned them that there was a group of 10 rather gung ho riders coming up behind him them. Sure enough, the group of 10 - slightly out of control appeared and two of them galloped up behind my friends and headed for the jump . . . and then pretty much bolted off . . . cue Sevi losing the plot slightly . . . just as J was attempting to get him to come back to her, the remaining eight riders also took off - sending Sevi over the edge - he bolted towards the trees, J came off (and was knocked briefly unconscious) and Sevi bolted home - up a very busy, narrow road . . . how he didn't either fall over or get hit by a car is a wonder to me (and J).

J was driven back to the yard, and SJ and Teddy finished their ride with Ted understandably shaken and yelling for Sevi.

J and SJ were very lucky . . . and Teddy certainly looked after SJ, despite having seen his friend disappear into the distance . . . but IMHO the incident was completely avoidable and the 10 riders behaved very irresponsibly.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
A couple of friends of mine had a large dose of inconsiderate ridership (if that's a word) at a fun ride recently. J on her ex-racer Sevi and SJ on her dependable cob Teddy had opted to do the ride without jumping and both horses coped well with other horses/riders overtaking . . . and they certainly weren't plodding along in walk - both were happy to trot and canter.

However, they were approaching a jump that wasn't far from a road and a passing rider warned them that there was a group of 10 rather gung ho riders coming up behind him them. Sure enough, the group of 10 - slightly out of control appeared and two of them galloped up behind my friends and headed for the jump . . . and then pretty much bolted off . . . cue Sevi losing the plot slightly . . . just as J was attempting to get him to come back to her, the remaining eight riders also took off - sending Sevi over the edge - he bolted towards the trees, J came off (and was knocked briefly unconscious) and Sevi bolted home - up a very busy, narrow road . . . how he didn't either fall over or get hit by a car is a wonder to me (and J).

J was driven back to the yard, and SJ and Teddy finished their ride with Ted understandably shaken and yelling for Sevi.

J and SJ were very lucky . . . and Teddy certainly looked after SJ, despite having seen his friend disappear into the distance . . . but IMHO the incident was completely avoidable and the 10 riders behaved very irresponsibly.

P
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I had a very similar experience on my first and only funride. I'm too terrified to go to another one!

We were in the first field at Marbury Farm and were negotiating a bit of a steep bank to get down to the second field. Me and my friend were taking it steady and allowing the horses to side step down at their own pace.

Next thing I knew, I was eating dirt. A older 'gentleman' appeared from behind us in a very fast canter, cantered down the hill past us, Bailey poo-ed his pants and shot forward after the horse, galloped down the bank and tripped at the bottom sending me sprawling. I had to be driven back to the lorry by the first aid landrover, someone had to go and retrieve Bailey who had ran ahead back to the lorry (across a country lane that divided the fun ride from the lorry park)

Cant help but think it may have ended differently if he had shouted 'coming through' because at least I could have picked up my reins (had them loose so as Bails could have his head to balance down this steep hill) .... as i said i'm too terrified to go to another fun ride!
 
I have a young horse Im bringing on at the minute and I took her to the common ridings. She has red ribbons in her tail as she does kick and goes for it fully with both barrels, despite me telling people this one stupid idiot STILL had her pony up my backside and when young horse exploded and nearly kicked the rider in the face it was suddenly all my fault, depsite her being told several time GET OFF MY PONIES BUTT SHE KICKS!!! She also wanted to sue me if her horse was damaged or traumatised in any way :rolleyes:

I hate inconsiderate people and needless to say that twerp was lucky she wasnt pulled off her horse as she had the audacity to give me cheek about it.

Its only courteous to shout 'HORSE PASSING' as you come up behind and to pay attention to the warnings people give around you, especially tabards and ribbons.

I also had my shin broken with a very painful compound fracture when another riders horse took offence to someone passing it and backed rather quickly into me and my other pony and tried to pin him against a fence, I was about three horse lengths behind her chatting to my friend and the next minute I'm lying on my ponies neck vomiting with the pain of my broken leg.

So horse can be upredictable and causing harm to others through selfishness really doesnt have an excuse.
 
^^ scary!!!

I would never go any faster than a walk past someone and if there wasn't a lot of space, I'd tell them I was passing. In cases where there's plenty of space I might trot as far away as possible and not a fast trot but a controlled one, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be out of control.

Hacking I'd NEVER pass anyone without getting permission first. But on a fun ride, I still despite reading this would EXPECT people to pass me, so wouldn't be expecting to be asked every time.
 
sophiebailey said:
I had a very similar experience on my first and only funride. I'm too terrified to go to another one!

We were in the first field at Marbury Farm and were negotiating a bit of a steep bank to get down to the second field. Me and my friend were taking it steady and allowing the horses to side step down at their own pace.

Next thing I knew, I was eating dirt. A older 'gentleman' appeared from behind us in a very fast canter, cantered down the hill past us, Bailey poo-ed his pants and shot forward after the horse, galloped down the bank and tripped at the bottom sending me sprawling. I had to be driven back to the lorry by the first aid landrover, someone had to go and retrieve Bailey who had ran ahead back to the lorry (across a country lane that divided the fun ride from the lorry park)

Cant help but think it may have ended differently if he had shouted 'coming through' because at least I could have picked up my reins (had them loose so as Bails could have his head to balance down this steep hill) .... as i said i'm too terrified to go to another fun ride!
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There isnt ever any excuse for passing at a pace above a controlled trot esp where it is narrow or downhill. So in your case, I think you are right to be very annoyed.
 
I find it quite sad that people seem incapable of a courteous "ok to pass".
Really, is it asking too much?

As it happens, mine doesn't seem to give two hoots what others are doing around her but that doesn't mean I assume all are as well trained/mannerly as her :p:D
 
Really Quirks?

Genuinely, if 50 riders (a normal field for round here on a fun ride if not more!) all asked me if they could pass, by the time I got to 20 I probably would have just gone home! Maybe I should wear a tabard saying YES it's ok to pass me. :D Maybe I'm just a narky old bint but I'd annoy the living daylights out of me.
 
BoolavogueDC said:
I agree with AB, though I'd feel genuinely bad if my horse trotting past another, caused grief, I certainly wouldn't expect to have to ask to pass everyone.

I'd be hoarse by the end of the ride!

A fun ride is where one would assume it very likely people would pass you therefore taking a horse who didn't like being passed (as opposed to a young horse who just needs to learn about it) seems a little dangerous to me.
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I'm a fast cofident rider that would also expect to do a lot of ovetaking but I'd rather be hoarse than cause other riders unnecessary distress
 
BD - only pleasure ride I've been on, we were one of the last to set off, so there was very little "can i pass" needed.
I liken it to not indicating whilst driving, always annoying and sometimes even dangerous!
 
I've done a fair few pleasure rides, Non Competitive Rides's and Competitive rides with EGB - I have passed and been passed, and I would never even consider passing without checking first, and as yet I'm to meet a competitive rider (even those doing race rides) that dont shout some kind of warning first - albeit sometimes you dont get much of a warning, but something is better than nothing! Its just common courtesy - granted if you're overtaking a group of 20 odd horses I would suggest a quick warning as they are approached and guage the response, not ask all the way past!)

I agree, if your horse isnt happy to be passed by other riders then it probably shouldnt be out on that kind of ride, however, it takes very little effort to let people know you're on your way and give them the chance to continue and wave you on, or pull up and maintain control while you go past (both of which i have done...)

I am quite surprised by those that say you wouldnt give any warning...
 
If we find a rider misbehaving badly either the rider not being polite going through a gate etc or riding dangerously we take their number and report them to the secretary at the n o the ride.

If we are back before they pick up their paper work they do not get the award , if we have missed them a letter is sent to them with a revised award & or points deducted.

I will not take bad manners /rudeness from anyone.

The reason I do not go on Fun /sponcored rides is the fact that riders do not take any consideration.

My Arabs are too fit just to either paddle around or gallop everywhere .
 
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I'm genuinely surprised to hear that people expect it.
This is our normal hacking, as you can see it's massive expanses of sand/river bed/common land. It's an area that is used for hacking/horse hire and trekking so lots of horse traffic. I can honestly say that the vast majority of this means unnannoucned horse traffic. Of course people don't gallop up behind you but you are quite often passed. I think round here it must be generally accepted that if you are in a high horse traffic area you should expect to be passed and be in control so no-one really says anything, apart from hello and then wait to get ahead of you enough to resume the speed they might want to?

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=og...=190&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0,i:132

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=og...199&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0,i:148

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=og...165&tbnw=258&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:95,i:22
 
Stencilface said:
Ah, but thats the irony isn't it, for many people - fun rides are anything but fun ;)

I wouldn't overtake a single person at trot, but a group I would, yes. And warning, is the sound of trotting hooves not warning enough?! I've been overtaken by someone galloping as I was walking before, but just because I was being boring, who am I to ruin their day out - we have all paid the money to be there :)

I have been on horses before who have jogged, cantered, plunged and bucked the entire way round a 15km 'fun ride' :rolleyes: If I had a similar horse again, I wouldn't bother! Its not other people's fault that I was riding an eejit. :)
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Ditto this.

I take it those of you who require a warning/ have to give permission before allowing anyone to pass don't go hunting??
 
millitiger said:
I would expect to be overtaken on a fun ride but I would certainly expect a polite call before being overtaken :)

It's only good manners imo, which seem to be severely lacking in some riders.
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This. I have always been asked if it is ok to overtake me on an endurance ride, it is the polite thing to do.


(And you get a higher number of people on an endurance gb ride compared to your average fun ride ;) )
 
I wouldn't expect to be asked for permission btw, I just think a warning would help some people out.

And I've been on foot with my friend whilst she took her youngster cubbing, most members of the hunt could be heard shouting 'coming through' or 'I'm on your left' as they set off. They were very polite to my friend and her youngster, making sure no-one came up behind her and that anyone overtaking gave her a wide berth :)
 
Crumbs. I've done 100s of pleasure rides and lower level (up to 25 miles) endurance rides over the years and there are 3 unwritten but adhered-to rules:

1. ALWAYS call out "Is it ok to pass" if you're coming up behind another rider(s). Usually it's fine. Sometimes they'll want to trot on to a gap and pull out of the way.

2. ALWAYS slow down (to walk from trot, to trot from canter, from gallop to canter, to match their pace (walk, trot or canter).

3. ALWAYS leave a good clear space (2-3 horse's lengths) between you and them when you're behind them. DO NOT go up their horse's arse. Unless you like yourself and your horse to be kicked. Unless you like them to be unseated by a buck/kick.

simplez.
 
marmalade76 said:
Ditto this.

I take it those of you who require a warning/ have to give permission before allowing anyone to pass don't go hunting??
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I don't actually see it as permission/warning, more of an indication of what is going to happen.

I'd rather hunt than do pleasure rides as I think the riders are more realistic as to their horses giddyness/excitement and therefore better prepared.
 
millitiger said:
I would expect to be overtaken on a fun ride but I would certainly expect a polite call before being overtaken :)

It's only good manners imo, which seem to be severely lacking in some riders.
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Totally agree, and also with the posters who state that for 'proper' endurance rides it seems to work ok, without anyone losing their voice by the end of the ride :rolleyes: :D

quirky said:
I find it quite sad that people seem incapable of a courteous "ok to pass".
Really, is it asking too much?
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Unfortunately it would appear that yes, it is too much for certain people. It really is basic courtesy at the end of the day :)
 
Rhino - I agree it is just courtesy and manners and applies in other situations - if I am riding along and come up behind a walker - even if there is room to safely go past I always yell hello or morning to them before I get too close - if you are on grass they quite often dont know you are there and its manners and safety to make yourself known.
 
Have not read the entire thread, so forgive me if getting hold of the wrong end of the stick, but - sounds like quite a lot of folk think the basic standard riding courtesies don't apply in certain situations, e.g. 'fun' rides? - whatever those are, sorry to sound such an old fuddy-duddy.
Or perhaps some of you never learnt them?
 
dorito said:
Or perhaps some of you never learnt them?
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Nope, as I have pointed out in my posts, round here unless hacking alone in a lane/bridleway situation, generally people don't say anything other than "hi" as they pass each other (albeit not at speed)
It might be that good thing as you're always on alert and expecting something to happen? That might be a good side-effect of it?

There's never any bad feeling over it either, maybe a "ooh you scared me" response but that's basically it.

After reading this I guess I'll have to get used to shouting to people if I need to pass, but personally, I'm still happy with being passed. :)
 
AprilBlossom said:
With respect, on a fun ride, I would expect to be able to trot past an unfamiliar horse. It's a fun ride and if overtaking meant you had to slow to a walk each time it would spoil the fun.

If I had a horse that was funny about people riding past it, I probably wouldn't take it to something like a fun ride till I'd worked on its issues.
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Amazing !!!! Nothing like have fun at others expense ,manners cost nothing .
 
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